A Feast For The Eyes: Easy Chocolate Torte

Sometimes, looking is enough.

And, sometimes, you just have to give in to temptation.

Friday Food Porn

So from March through August, I ran a regular feature here each Friday called A Feast For The Eyes. Perhaps you've heard of it?

Or, perhaps you're one of the b'zillion folks who have sent me emails these last eight weeks, imploring, beseeching, demanding "Please, oh please, bring back the Friday food porn! It's what I live for."

Seriously? Live for? Whoa!

Okay, so as not to start a coup (or cause any premature deaths), occasionally, I may throw you a bone — or in this case, a chocolate torte.

With National Chocolate Day this week and it being Halloween weekend, I thought this delectable treat would satiate your inner voyeurs. Feast your eyes on this sexy raw vegan recipe for Easy Chocolate Torte.

Live a little. It's the weekend

Go Nuts, It's National Chocolate Day!

Hello, any other chocoholics out there? Thought so.

Well praise the Lord and pass the cacao, cuz today is National Chocolate Day! Yup, October 28, just before Halloween, a day for chocolate lovers to openly indulge in their addiction, without shame or ridicule.

I'm in! Don't have to twist my arm. You?

The Food of the Gods

You've probably been hearing more and more these days about the health and healing benefits of cacao, or raw chocolate. According to David Wolfe, author of Naked Chocolate: The Astounding Truth About the World’s Greatest Food, chocolate in its natural state is the best form of magnesium, chromium and iron, which are the top three mineral deficiencies in the U.S.

Wolfe, one of raw chocolate’s biggest advocates, also credits cacao as being the No. 1 antioxidant food in the world — 30 times higher than red wine and 20 times higher than green tea.

So, indulge and enjoy!

How Do You Like Your Chocolate?

Some prefer to indulge with cake, others a decadent mousse. Perhaps sinfully-good truffles? You might enjoy a strawberry dipped in chocolate gooey goodness. Or, if you're like me, straight up and dark, please.

Spead the love by sampling and supporting these fine purveyors of raw chocolates:

• UliMana
• gnosis chocolate
• Lulu's Raw Chocolate Alchemy
• Fine & Raw chocolate

Tell me, how are you celebrating?

Tap Tap Tap...We Have Our Winners!

Thanks to the folks at ZICO, three lucky ladies will be getting a case of 100% pure coconut water, along with a ZICO t-shirt.

Many thanks to all who entered, tweeted and blogged about the Cuckoo For Coconut Water Giveaway.

So, let's see who Mr. Random Number Generator chose:
#59
pure2rawTwins: That would be Michelle & Lori, fraternal twins who are raw gluten-free vegan chefs/bakers. They own and operate Twin Cakes bakery in Raleigh, North Carolina. Twelve ZICOs in a case, girls, so play nice and share, 'k?

#81
Errign: A twenty-something college student in New England, Errign blogs over at 365 Days! Errign's "trying hard to love running" so maybe the ZICO can help her out with that. It's a perfect way to rehydrate post workout.

#76
@keri410: Keri loves being active outdoors — hiking, running, tennis, basketball, horseback riding, camping. You're going to love the convenience of ZICO, Keri. No machete required. I'll often keep one in my pack out on the trails, and yes, I've even taken them camping with me. You can follow Keri's outdoor adventures at Hop, Skip, and a Giant Leep.

Congratulations, ladies! Watch your mail for a special package, arriving soon. Enjoy!

Cuckoo For Coconut Water Giveaway

I'm a big fan of coconut water. I'll often use it in place of filtered water in my green smoothies. I like to add it to blended soups and raw desserts. And there's nothing that quenches my thirst and rehydrates me more quickly after a long hike, run or yoga class.

But despite my great sense of adventure, I'm just not a machete-wielding kinda gal. And a machete, or large cleaver, is what it takes to hack through the hard shell of a green coconut and lay claim to the precious water within.

Enter ZICO Pure Coconut Water

ZICO (Zee-ko) is made in Brazil from young (sometimes called green) coconuts, valued for the health benefits of the great tasting water inside. At this stage of its development, the coconut contains virtually no meat and is filled with water that's loaded with electrolytes and more potassium than a banana. If left to mature, this water becomes the meat and milk of a coconut.

I have so many folks write and ask me the difference between the coconut milk they see in their grocery stores and the coconut water I often list as an ingredient in my recipes. So here's the gist of it: Coconut milk is made from ground coconut meat, coconut water, regular water, and usually sugar and preservatives. It is high in calories and fat, and thick and white in consistency. Coconut water is just the pure, translucent water inside a young coconut before it matures. Period.

Besides not having to use a machete to open it, the reason I love ZICO is because they use only pure coconut water. No additives. No preservatives. Some other companies use meat, milk and regular water, and market it as "coconut water."

Another reason I'm a fan of ZICO is because it's produced in a sustainable and responsible way. The company uses only natural fertilizers and pest control practices that are consistent with USDA organic requirements. ZICO is packaged near the coconut farms in Brazil so that the local communities benefit from higher wage jobs. The company also gives 5% of its net profits back to improve health, wellness and education in these communities.

Like a little zip to your coconut water? Try a flavored ZICO in mango or passion fruit. The natural flavor essence comes from the flower of the fruit and is very potent in small doses. This way it adds no coloring, calories, carbs or acidity to the beverage. Nice.

A Giveaway!

The lovely folks at ZICO have graciously offered to give one two THREE lucky readers of In The Raw a case of coconut water — that's 12 ZICOs! Oh, and they'll throw in a cute ZICO Coconut Water T-shirt too. Wooeeeee, Christmas comes early!

So, here's the scoop:

You have until Midnight Sunday (EDT), Oct. 18th, to enter, after which time Mr. Random Number Generator will choose three winners* and I'll announce those fortuitous people here on Monday. *This particular giveaway is open only to folks in the continental US.

All you have to do is:

1. Visit ZICO, browse their site and leave a comment on this post, telling me one thing you learned. Simple.

Extra Entries: If you'd like to increase your chances of winning, please leave a separate comment for each extra entry. (If you do not leave a separate comment for each entry, Mr. Random Number Generator will not count you. He's funny that way.)

2. Follow me on Twitter AND tweet the giveaway with a link to this post (please leave your Twitter ID in the comment)

3. Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post (please leave the link to your blog post in the comment)

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Update 10-19-09: This Giveaway Is Now Closed

Way Down Yonder In The Pawpaw Patch

When it's not cold and wet, boy oh boy, do I love autumn. We had a picture-perfect day yesterday: the bluest of blue skies and the leaves turning gorgeous shades of red, orange and gold. I just couldn't be indoors.

As often happens when I'm out hiking, I end up coming home with wild edibles I've foraged. I recently wrote about the blackberries and Concord grapes I found. Perhaps more accurately, I should say they found me. Really, that's usually how it happens. A pleasant, and always welcome, surprise.

But yesterday's find, well, that was like discovering a rare and precious buried treasure. Only this treasure wasn't buried — it was hanging from a tree. Pawpaws!

What the heck is a Pawpaw?

The pawpaw is actually the largest berry fruit in the States. And, I mean large. Like, the size of a small cantaloupe or a ripe grapefruit (only, they're shaped more like a kidney).

To discover that I have a "tropical" fruit growing within miles of my home, makes me squeal with delight. Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio are the top leaders in pawpaw production. Who knew?

Okay, so I gave the tree a little shake, and down they came. I scooped up a good 20 pounds worth into my pack and left a few remaining on the ground for my four-legged friends, the deer.

I had to try one as soon as I got home. The yellow flesh tastes like a cross between a mango, banana and pineapple, with just a hint of nutmeg thrown into the mix. Amazing.

What's even more amazing is that as I'm grieving the end of my backyard store, putting my garden to bed for its long winter's nap, this delectable fruit is just now ripe and ready to harvest in early autumn. Thanks, Mother Nature! Nicely planned.

Alright, so I've already started playing in the laboratory my kitchen to see what I could create with these beauties. I have a smoothie recipe to share with you, and remember my cute Mini Mango Birthday Pies? Well, they inspired a batch of Pawpaw Tarts. Enjoy!

Pawpaw Smoothie

1 ripe pawpaw, peeled & seeded
2 C fresh-squeezed orange juice
2 Tbsp mint leaves, chopped
juice of half a lime

Blend until smooth. Grab a straw and enjoy!


Pawpaw Tarts
 
Carob Chip Crust
1 C almond meal
1/2 C sunflower seeds
1/2 ripe banana
5 medjool dates, pitted
1/4 C raw cacao nibs
2 Tbsp local raw honey
1 tsp cinnamon

Blend together for a nice chunky consistency. Avoid over-processing to allow for texture and crunch. Press mixture into tartlet tins and refrigerate for 30 minutes until firm.

Pawpaw Filling
1 ripe pawpaw, peeled & seeded

Blend until smooth and creamy. Add a bit of lemon juice to keep the mixture from browning. Scoop into tart crust. Chill if you prefer a firmer filling, or serve fresh.

♫ The Paw Paw Patch (traditional folk song) ♫

Where, oh where is pretty little Susie?
Where, oh where is pretty little Susie?
Where, oh where is pretty little Susie?
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.


Come on, boys, let's go find her,
Come on, boys, let's go find her,
Come on, boys, let's go find her,
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.


Pickin' up paw-paws, puttin' 'em in her pockets,
Pickin' up paw-paws, puttin' 'em in her pockets,
Pickin' up paw-paws, puttin' 'em in her pockets,
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.

How To Change Your Relationship To Food

So there you go, an 18-month journey of changing my relationship with food, summed up in 30 seconds. My directorial debut. Think I'm ready for Sundance? Cannes?

Now, go to Animoto and see what you can create in half a minute. Have fun. Play!

Which reminds me of another tip: when you're busy loving life, food becomes less of a mistress.

A note to those of you viewing this in your Inbox or News Reader: chances are, you're not seeing any movie at all and will have to click through to my site. C'mon, 30 seconds. Click here.